Rocking-chair.



PATBNTED JUNE 28, 1904.

J. P. HOKANS. ROCKING CHAIR.

APPLIOATIGN FILED AUG. 2a 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

J.. P. HOKANS. ROCKING CHAIR. APPLIOATIOK FILED AUG. 28, 1903 2SHEETSSHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

hereinafter described and claimed and which 1 plots chair withoutupholstery.

' U ITED STATES Patented June 28, 1904.

PATENT ()FFICEQ ING-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,667, dated. June28, 1904. Application filed August 28, 1903. Serial No. 171,131. (Nomodel.)

the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip' tion thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification. v

This invention is an improvement in rocking-chairs; and its objects areto improve the mechanical construction of such chairs by providing a newrocker structure, a new back formation, a new adjustable seat and rockerconnection or adjustable leg, and to provide other novel features ofconstruction and combinationof parts by which I produce a balancedrocking-chair in which the occupant may rest at ease, rock with leastexertion, and stop in any position of the chair desired and which willnot turn over, the chair combining in itself the advantages of a rockerand swing with that of'a reclining or tilting chair.

The invention therefore consists in the novel construction andcombination of parts is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is aperspective view of the-com- Fig. 2 is a detail viewof the arm-support; Fig. 3, a section through one of the ad justable-lcgconnectime; Fig. 4, a detail section on line 4.4., Fig. 3;,'Fig.,5, aperspective view of parts of an adjustable leg detached. Fig. 6 is adetail view of part of a rocker. Fig. '7 is a perspective view of theupper part of chair uphol stered. F ig. 8 is adetail section showing-theconnection of the legs to the rockers.

The seat A of the chair may be of any suitable kind. It is shown as acurved wood seat of comfortable formation and supported on two frontlegs B B and two rear legs, each of which is composed of two mainmemborsC C,

adjustably connected together by means of a boltc. tapped into the lowerportion of part0 and passing through a vertical slotcnear the pper endof part C. To prevent the parts upon the bolt, the part G has ametal ribin its under side above the bolt, which engages a corresponding slot 0in the upper end of part C. This construction provides for readyshortening or lengthening of the rear legs, and consequently theelevation of the rear part of the seat relatively to the front portionthereof. The lower ends of the several legs are attached to the rockersE by similar means. Each leg rests upon the upper edge of the rocker andis provided with metal clamp-plates D d, said plates being fastened tothe leg and to each other by the screws D, and each plate has a stud (Z'on its inner face and inner end, engaging a corresponding socket in theleg to hold the plates firmly in place when the bolt is tightened. Plate(Z also has a lug (Z on its inner face and lower end adapted to engage acorresponding socket or slot in the rocker, so as to confine the lattersecurely to the leg. (See Fig. 12.)

The lugs (Z on rear leg-plates engage slots 0 in the rockers, said slotspermitting the adjustment of the legs Without binding or straining afterbolts D are slightly loosened.

The rockers E are of peculiar form and construction. They are preferablyand ordinaril y from six to seven feet long and approximately straightfrom their front ends to and slightly beyond the front legs. Then theycurve on a long are of approximately ninety degrees down to the rearlegs and on up for a distance beyond said legs, and their rear ends areapproximately straight and almost parallel with the back ofthe chair.These straight portions of the rockers effectually prevent the chairturning over either forwardly or backwardly. The curvature of therockers is calculated so that whenthe legs are properly adjusted thecenter of gravity of the chair when occupied will be approximately atthe center of the circle on which the rockers are curved, and the roarlegsare connected to the rockers at approximately the central parts of'their bends. The chair when properly adjusted can remain stationary inany position desired when occupied and at same time can be caused tomove or rock by a slight movement' of the hand or foot of the occupantjust suflicient to disturb the center of gravity. Obviously, however,the chair must be ad justed to suit the user and in this respect is anindividual chair, for while it can be used by any one it will notoperate exactly as described, except for the party whom it was adjustedto suit, although it is always more easily rocked and more comfortableand has a longer swinging motion than an ordinary rocking-chair.

A feature of the invention is the construction of the rockers. Owingtotheir length and curvature, they cannot be out in onepiece from ordinaryplanks. and therefore in order to obtain strength and lightness I buildup the rockers out of segments, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 6. Thesesegments 6 are cut approximately diamond-shaped, and the jointstherebetween are oblique to the curvature of the rockers, and adjoiningsegments are fastened together by gluing and by top and bottom screws 0'e said screws passing through the narrow end of one segment into thethick end of the other. It will also be observed that the joints of thesegments, owing to the peculiar cut of the segments, overlap that is, aswill be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 6, the upper end of one jointprojects beyond or overlaps the lower end of the next joint. Thispeculiar cut brings the pressure almost broadside on the joints ratherthan parallel therewith and makes a much stronger and durable rockerthan would be the case if the segments were cut on radial lines. Theparticular number of segments is not material; but they are preferablycut so that the grain of the wood runs longitudinally of the greatestlength of the segment. it will be observed by reference to Fig. 1 of thedrawings that the segments in the central or more shapely curvedportions of the rocker are much smaller than those at the ends thereof,the segments increasing in size from center toward both ends. The reasonof this construction is to give the greatest strength to the rockerwhere it is subjected naturally to most strain and use. It will also beobserved that the bases or lower edges of the segments are of greaterextent than their tops or upper edges, which imparts the desiredcurvature to the rockenwhile maintaining the desired overlappingrelation of the segments. To further strengthen the rockers and firmlyunite the segments and present a uniform wearing-surface, 1 preferablyshoe the rockers with a bent wood runner or strip E, extending from oneend of the rocker to the other and secured thereto by glue and nails orscrews. I

The legs of the chair are fastened to the,

- sockets being cut laterally into the seat and closed by plugs (1 Thenut-s may have dovetailed ends to facilitate their removal lower ends ofbolts F pass through openings in the upper ends of thelegs, which latterare secured thereto by nuts F, as shown.

The chair may be provided with arms (l, attached to the back andsupported at front on the seat by the arm-standards G. clearly in Figs.1 and 2.) The back of the chair is also of novel construction. It isformed of end pieces or bars H, which are preferably provided withtenons on their lower ends fitted into corresponding sockets in theseat. Between the side pieces are a series of bent wood members H, whichare bent themselves and areal-ranged side by side. The upper ends ofadjacent members H are fitted together and secured by metallic straps l1and screws h, giving an ornamental finish thereto, while the lower bendsof the members are fastened to the rear end of the seat A by screws hThis makes a firm and substantial attachment 'of' back to seat, and theconstruction, as shown in Fig. 1, affords a pleasing ornamentalappearance. The members H may be properly spaced and braced by metalloops H interposed between them, as shown in Fig. 1, and secured theretoby screws or rivets.

The complete chair (shown in Fig. 1) possesses all the advantages I haveabove referred to. The inclination of the seat on the rockers isregulable by adjusting the lengths of the rear legs, and the entirechair can be easily taken apart for transportation, if neccessary, andas readily assembled.

The seat-cushion may be secured in place by means of side strips Mfastened'to the cushion and to buttons m beneath the seat.

The back-cushions may be secured to the chair 1. In a chair, thecombination of the seat,

the rockers, and the front legs fixedly attached to the seat androckers, the rear legs connecting the seat and rockers, said rear legsbeing composed of two parts ad justably connected together, so as to beextensible longitudinally, the upper parts being fastened to the seatand the lower parts adjustably connected to the (Shown rockers, so as tobe adjustable longitudinally thereof for the purpose and substantiallyas described.

*2. In a rocking-chair, the combination of the rockers, a seat, frontand rear legs attached to the seat, 'said rear legs being adjustable inlength, and separable opposed clamping-plates D and d fastened to thelower ends and opposite sides of said legs and embracing the rockers andplates 1) being provided with from the sockets, if necessary, by asuitable lugs ii engaging holes in the rockers, and bolts tool after theplugs 11" are removed. The l uniting theplates,.snbstant1allyasdescribed.

rsaesr chair-back, composed of a series of members bent upon themselvesto form a series of elongated ovals or bends and having their contiguousends united.

' A chair having a seat, and a back composed of side pieces fastened tothe seat, and a series of interposed members bent upon themselves havingtheir upper contiguous ends fastened together and their bends fastenedto he seat, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A rocking-chair having a seat, a back, front and rear legs, thelatter legs being lon-- gitudinally adjustable, and rockers curved onarcs of approximately ninety degrees,and extended rearward to preventupsetting of the chair, the front legs being attached to the trontpartoi the seat and the front ends of the rockers, and the rear legs beingattached to the rear part of the seat and adjustably attached to therockers about midway of their length. substantially as and for thepurpose described. 7 v

6. A rocking-chair having a seat, back, and arms, front legs andextensible rear legs, and rockers curved on arcs of approximately ninetydegrees, with their rear ends straight and extending upwardsubstantially parallel with the baclr of the chair, so as topreventupsetting thereof, the front legs being attached to the rockers neartheir front ends, and the rear legs attached to the rockers about midwayof their length said rear legs being adjustable longitudinally or therockers, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7.. A rocker tor roching-chairs, composed of a longitudinal series ofapproximately diamond-shaped segments arranged edge'wise and end to endand with their joints oblique to the curve of the rocker, the centralsegments of the series being smaller than the outer segments, for thepurpose and substantially "as described.

8. A rocking-chair rocker, composed of a series of overlapping segmentshaving their joints extending obliquely or diagonally of the curve ofthe rec rer, and united edgewise, the central segments being smallerthan the outer or end segments, and a shoe or runner underlying all thesegments and fastened thereto, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

9. A rocker for rocking-chairs composed of a series of approximatelydiamond-shaped overlapping segments of varying sizes haning their jointsarranged obliquely of the curve of the rocker and united edgewise, thecentral segments being smaller than the outer or end segments, and ashoe or runner underlying all the segments and fastened thereto,substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. An adjustable leg for chairs, comprising a curved upper part and alower parthaving an inward lyprojecting upper end overlapping the lowerend of the upper part, a fasteningbolt tapped into one part and passingthrough a longitudinal slot in the other part, and a centrallongitudinal rib in the curve of the upper part above the bolt engagingacentrally-located slot in the upperend of the lower part, substantiallyas and for the purpose described In testimony that 1 claim the foregoingas myown lafiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

, JOHN P. HOKANS. In presence oif- ARTHUR E. DOWELL,

JAMns R. Mansrrenn.

